hey guys, just got my first double kB setup and did some first cleans to get a feel for it. Apart from my fingers (I'm not comfortable with putting my fingertips on top of the handle yet), do you think I lean backwards to much? Any other advice highly appreciated of course!
Did 10sets 30sec on 30sec off changing sides,kept the rep scheme at 14 reps right arm and 13 reps left arm
Goal was 12-15rpm. I hit a tad over 13 on average.
It's May 7, 2026. The last set of pullups I did was on the 4th of July last year. I am 6'. My bodyweight is around 290lbs.
I laugh at the incredible continuity of testing at x4 in June of last year at the calisthenics/street lifting meet and it again being x4 this year having gone an even longer length of time this time around without a single pullup done - my pull work mostly being whatever happens happens with kettlebell, and high frequency of it.
Did a few sets of x2 on "commando grip" pullups after this, and that close mixed grip seems where I can do the most volume currently. Felt stronger than overhand.
With pullups there is no such thing as too many grip variants.
Pullups felt entirely fine on the joints and at the insertions. I can start training them again, probably at the 10x1 level 2-4x weekly overhand, and could definitely gtg commando grip, though overhand takes training priority.
My best set at 285ish was x12 three years ago.
Five years ago weighing around 240 was nearly x30. I forget if it was x27 or x29.
Pullups seem worth adding again, as is running. To not just be circus strong fat man strongman with kettlebell lifting...comrade.
12 sets of 10
EMOM
AB ROLLER
10 rolls x 5 sets
The reason I combine a heavy anchor Zercher hold with clean pressing a 92 lb kettlebell is because it teaches the body how to stay strong while dealing with awkward weight and movement at the same time. The anchor is constantly pulling you forward and out of position while the kettlebell clean and press forces your hips, core, shoulders, grip, and balance to work together to control it. Instead of training muscles one at a time, this trains your body to coordinate under pressure and instability. I do this because real life strength is rarely balanced or comfortable, and this style of training exposes weak points fast while building more usable strength overall.
Rounds 1,2,5,6,11,12 shown
Folks, what would be your initial program recommendation for someone who is a newbie to Kettlebell training, but with over a decade of Barbell training experience, and no stranger to the basic bodyweight exercises (dips, pushups, chinups)? I've gotten strong, but also pretty banged up with those ever-increasing barbell loads. In fact, currently going through physical therapy to assist with some left shoulder pain (thankfully no signs of serious damage under x-ray or ultrasound).
Goal is to "look like someone who lifts" at a glance, so aesthetics/hypertrophy a little above strength or conditioning in the priority list (although I know all three will happen).
I prefer a Full-body type of routine (since that's what I've been doing for a while now), and I workout 4 days per week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays).
With that background information, is there a specific program that you would recommend I follow for at least the first few training cycles? Is there anything else you'd need to know before making a recommendation that I failed to include here in the original post?
I think my search answered my question, but looking for feedback (for next time, as I already did what I did, lol). Is it better to do push press with my heavier weight, OR drop weight, and keep to strict.
Final day of ABF (100 reps). 2-3-5-10 format with 12kg. Only by round 2 I split the last 10 into 5-5. By round 3, it felt like too much, so opted for last 10 as push press. I'm now thinking I should have dropped to my 10kg bells OR, maybe a slow lower with the push press. Thoughts? (I'm certain Dan John has covered this on his podcast and/or maybe even in the books...which I do have both. Maybe I'll go look...)
For reference, my first time thru ABF I did 12kg/10kg for 10 reps. I've been using 12kg this entire time, and my last big day of 80 reps was all with 12kg. But today was not it! (But was determined to finish with 12kg)
Thanks for any feedback 👍
Does anyone here use adjustable handles, with weight plates? Considering buying one.
Would you be able to do all the regular movements?
Been training kettlebells for a few years off and on, mainly simple and sinister and complexes. But recently started DFW with double 16kgs and I’ve been really enjoying it. It’s good to have a proper program to follow and my C&P has gotten very tidy. I’ve just ordered a pair of adjustable competition bells so will have some extra weight to work with going forward.
I was thinking of starting King-Sized Killer next and work on my snatch endurance and technique, but I’m concerned there’s no squats or lunges so I was planning to work in some ABC.
Obviously KSK is a paid program (£30($40) but at 9 weeks seems decent value cause I can run it in the future with higher weight). But I was wondering if anyone had done it and can say if it’s worth the cash!
Hey guys, just wanted some thoughts on goal-setting and basically what the title says.
I have various calisthenics goals (front lever, adv. tuck planche, slow bar muscle up), which are things I'm on the way to working towards and are my most important "I have now achieved this" goals.
However, when I ask "what type of fitness is really important", the answer is definitely rooted in kettlebells (building work capacity, longevity, mobility, metabolic-conditioning etc.). I see kettlebell training as invaluable for those things, it's just that I don't have those same specific goals driving me (e.g., I'd rather be able to say "I can do a front lever" vs. "I can press X kg").
Is anyone else in this sort of position, either with calisthenics or something else (running, swimming etc)? If so, how do you structure your week to incorporate kettlebells alongside your main goals elsewhere, and what kettlebell workouts do you end up doing?
For reference, I'm currently thinking of something similar to below, with all sessions being "full body" and the general mindset of "raise your ceiling with calisthenics, raise your floor with kettlebells". Mon/Sun are difficult timewise my end, hence the two back-to-back sessions:
- Mon: rest
- Tue: calisthenics
- Wed: kettlebells
- Thu: rest
- Fri: calisthenics
- Sat: kettlebells
- Sun: rest
I got all pictured plus a single proKB 48kg comp bell
For $1200. I don’t know what the used market for kettlebells is like. I don’t think I overpaid. How did I do?
Pairs, all kettlebell kings:8kg, 12kg, 16kg, 20kg, 24kg, 32kg
Single, Pro Kettlebell: 48kg competition style (not pictured)
Hey all! I'm 157cm and 52kg (5'2'', 114lbs) -- so, pretty tiny. In the past I got a comp style KB and found the size to be massive for me compared to my hard style ones. Also I found it to be very bottom heavy. Those two things combined made presses feel like they were gonna rip my shoulder out of my socket, even with lower weight than usual. I still love the idea of having consistent technique across different weights, but I'm wondering if I'm forcing something to work that'll just make my life harder and just doesn't work as well with my body. For reference, a comp KB is as tall as the distance from my knuckles to my elbow.
I have two cast irons (8, 12kg) from decathlon and one 16kg comp style. Thinking about selling or trading my comp one for cast iron because of these reasons.
End of week 3 and its the dreaded single rep set session. Still my least favourite session , just don't get into a good rhythm stopping after each rep.
Though on the bright side its helping dial in my discipline and focus, plus a clean from a dead stop with every rep is good for me. Also I beat last week's D3 effort by a couple reps.
Now heading into the final week
(5 reps from midway point and 5 from the end)